We have heard from multiple sources that high level state and national Republican leaders are currently in the process of recruiting SCGOP Chairman Katon Dawson to run against Sen. Lindsey Graham in next year’s Republican Primary.

Graham will have a Senate primary opponent in 2008. The only question is whether it will be someone so far right-wing that Graham can brush it off or if it would be someone more problematic. And Dawson would be problematic. Obviously, as Chair of the state GOP, Dawson has strong relationships with the Party's rank and file. And if Graham's approval really has sunk to an abominable 31%, Dawson would give Graham a real race. I suppose we'll have to wait for a formal comment from Dawson, who has so far said, "Somebody might step up and run against the senator -- certainly there's consternation out there." Pretty strong words from the Chair of Graham's state Party. The State even offers that Graham "is in deep trouble with hard-core conservative members of his own party." Hopefully, this will encourage a viable Democrat to step up and enter the race as well (Paging Robert Barber Jr.!).